title: Total ankle replacement in patients under the age of 50. Should the indications be revised?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High physical demand and young age are currently considered contraindications for total ankle replacement. This study aimed to compare its results between patients under the age of 50 and those aged 50 or older.
  
  
  METHODS
  103 patients derived from an ongoing prospective multicentric study with a mean follow-up of 41 (range, 24-72) months were included in this study. Clinical status (AOFAS score), range of motion (ROM), complication and survivorship rates were compared between <50 and ≥50 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ROM and AOFAS score were significantly higher, as were their increases relatively to pre-operative values in patients <50. Complication and survivorship rates were comparable between both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At medium-term, ankle replacement is at least as effective in patients under the age of 50 as in those with aged 50 or older. Long-term results will allow to assess whether surgical indications for should be revised.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Hospital de Santo António, Largo Prof. Abel Salazar, 4099-001 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: ric_pinto@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodrigues-Pinto
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muras
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Martín Oliva
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000601:surgery; D058737:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Ankle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age; Ankle arthroplasty; Ankle replacement; Clinical results; Complications; Contraindications; Indications; Prospective multicentric study; Survivorship rate; Young patients